Estrogen Action (estrogen + action)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Life Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Neonatal estrogen exposure inhibits steroidogenesis in the developing rat ovary

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4 2001
Yayoi Ikeda
Abstract Treatment of newborn female rats with estrogens significantly inhibits the growth and differentiation of the ovary. To understand the molecular mechanism of estrogen action in the induction of abnormal ovary, we examined the expression profiles of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) and several of its target genes in the developing ovaries after neonatal exposure to synthetic estrogen, estradiol benzoate (EB) by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Morphologic examination indicated inhibitory effects of estrogen on the stratification of follicles and development of theca and interstitial gland during postnatal ovarian differentiation. The expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450SCC), which are both essential for steroid biosynthesis, markedly decreased in theca and interstitial cells throughout the postnatal development of the EB-treated ovary. However, expression of the transcriptional activator of the two genes, SF-1 was unaffected in theca and interstitial cells, although the number of these cells was lower in the EB-treated ovary than in the control ovary. The expression of the estrogen mediator, estrogen receptor-, (ER-,), diminished specifically in theca cells at P6 and recovered by P14 in the EB-treated ovary. These results indicate that the effect of estrogens is mediated by means of ER-, resulting in the down-regulation of StAR and P450SCC genes during early postnatal development of the ovary. These results suggest that the abnormal ovarian development by neonatal estrogen treatment is closely correlated with the reduced steroidogenic activity, and the data obtained by using this animal model may account in part the mechanism for aberrant development and function of the ovary in prenatally estrogen-exposed humans. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Estrogen modulates estrogen receptor , and , expression, osteogenic activity, and apoptosis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of osteoporotic mice

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue S36 2001
Shuanhu Zhou
Abstract In the mouse, ovariectomy (OVX) leads to significant reductions in cancellous bone volume while estrogen (17,-estradiol, E2) replacement not only prevents bone loss but can increase bone formation. As the E2-dependent increase in bone formation would require the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast precursors, we hypothesized that E2 regulates mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) activity in mouse bone marrow. We therefore investigated proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and estrogen receptor (ER) , and , expression of primary culture MSCs isolated from OVX and sham-operated mice. MSCs, treated in vitro with 10,7 M E2, displayed a significant increase in ER, mRNA and protein expression as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and proliferation rate. In contrast, E2 treatment resulted in a decrease in ER, mRNA and protein expression as well as apoptosis in both OVX and sham mice. E2 up-regulated the mRNA expression of osteogenic genes for ALP, collagen I, TGF-,1, BMP-2, and cbfa1 in MSCs. In a comparison of the relative mRNA expression and protein levels for two ER isoforms, ER, was the predominant form expressed in MSCs obtained from both OVX and sham-operated mice. Cumulatively, these results indicate that estrogen in vitro directly augments the proliferation and differentiation, ER, expression, osteogenic gene expression and, inhibits apoptosis and ER, expression in MSCs obtained from OVX and sham-operated mice. Co-expression of ER,, but not ER,, and osteogenic differentiation markers might indicate that ER, function as an activator and ER, function as a repressor in the osteogenic differentiation in MSCs. These results suggest that mouse MSCs are anabolic targets of estrogen action, via ER, activation. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 36: 144,155, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Expression of RIZ1 protein (Retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger protein 1) in prostate cancer epithelial cells changes with cancer grade progression and is modulated in vitro by DHT and E2

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Valentina Rossi
The nuclear protein methyl-transferase Retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger protein 1 (RIZ1) is considered to be a downstream effector of estrogen action in target tissues. Silencing of RIZ1 expression is common in many tumors. We analyzed RIZ1 expression in normal and malignant prostate tissue and evaluated whether estradiol (E2) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment modulated RIZ1 in cultured prostate epithelial cells (PEC). Moreover, we studied the possible involvement of RIZ1 in estrogen action on the EPN prostate cell line, constitutively expressing both estrogen receptor (ER)-, and ,. RIZ1 protein, found in the nucleus of normal PECs by immunohistochemistry, was progressively lost in cancer tissues as the Gleason score increased and was only detected in the cytoplasmic compartment. RIZ1 transcript levels, as assayed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in primary PEC cultures, were significantly reduced in cancer cells (P,<,0.05). In EPN DHT treatment significantly increased RIZ1 transcript and protein levels (P,<,0.05); E2 induced a reduction of S phase without significant changes of RIZ1 expression. In E2-treated EPN cell extracts RIZ co-immunoprecipitated with ER, and ER,. Our data demonstrate that RIZ1 is expressed in normal PECs and down-regulated in cancer cells, with a switch of its sub-cellular localization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm upon cancer grade progression. RIZ1 expression levels in the PECs were modulated by DHT or E2 treatment in vitro. Furthermore, the E2 effects on ER-expressing prostate cells involve RIZ1, which confirms a possible role for ER-mediated pathways in a non-classic E2 -target tissue. J. Cell. Physiol. 221: 771,777, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Dietary sources of lignans and isoflavones modulate responses to estradiol in estrogen reporter mice

MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 8 2009
Pauliina E. Penttinen-Damdimopoulou
Abstract Dietary phytoestrogens, such as the lignan metabolite enterolactone (ENL) and the isoflavone genistein (GEN), are suggested to modulate the risk of estrogen-dependent disease (e.g., breast cancer) through regulation of estrogen signaling. However, the effects of complex food items containing lignans or isoflavones on estrogen receptor (ER) transactivation have not been assessed so far. In this study, the modulation of ER-mediated signaling by dietary sources of lignans (cereals and flaxseed) and isoflavones (soy) was studied in vivo. Adult ovariectomized 3×ERE-luciferase (luc) reporter mice received isocaloric diets supplemented with flaxseed, rye, wheat, or soy for 40 h or two weeks, and an additional group of mice was challenged with 17,-estradiol (E2) following the two-week dietary intervention. In non-E2 -treated mice, soy diet induced luc expression in liver, mammary gland, and pituitary gland while the other diets had no effects. Interestingly, all diets modulated the E2 -induced luc expression. In particular rye diet efficiently reduced E2 -induced luc expression as well as uterine growth, the hallmark of estrogen action in vivo. It is concluded that dietary sources of lignans and isoflavones can modulate estrogen signaling in vivo. The results suggest intriguing possibilities for the modulation of the risk of estrogen-dependent diseases by dietary means. [source]


Estrogen receptor- and aromatase-deficient mice provide insight into the roles of estrogen within the ovary and uterus,

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2001
Cheryl S. Rosenfeld
Abstract Estrogen receptor (ER)- (,, ,, and both , and ,) and aromatase (Ar) knockout (KO) mice have been created to assess the biological effects of estrogens. This review article discusses the ovarian and uterine phenotypes of these mice. The data obtained have confirmed some older inferences about how the steroid acts, but have also revealed some unexpected aspects of estrogen action. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 59:336,346, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Expression and localization of estrogen receptors , and , mRNA in medullary bone of laying hens

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2006
Tomohiko IMAMURA
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to observe the expression and localization of estrogen receptor (ER) , and ER , mRNA in the medullary bone of laying hens. First, medullary bone, liver, kidney, and shell gland of the oviduct tissues were dissected from laying hens. Then, the total cellular RNA was isolated from each tissue specimen, and the ER , and ER , mRNA expression was observed using semiquantitative RT-PCR. Second, the localization of ER , mRNA in the medullary bone was detected with in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-11-UTP-labeled cRNA probes. As a result, the expression of ER , mRNA was higher than that of ER , mRNA in the medullary bone, liver, and shell gland of the oviduct from laying hens. In the kidney, ER , mRNA expression was lower than that of ER , mRNA. The expression pattern of ER , and ER , mRNA of the medullary bone was similar to that of the shell gland of the oviduct. Moreover, ER , mRNA was intensively expressed in osteoblasts on the medullary bone surface and bone marrow stromal cells but was not expressed in osteoclasts. These results suggest that in medullary bone, estrogen action may be regulated not by ER , but by ER ,. [source]


Extra-nuclear signaling of estrogen receptors

IUBMB LIFE, Issue 8 2008
Xiao-Dong Fu
Abstract Estrogen controls multiple biological functions through binding to estrogen receptors (ERs). Traditionally, ERs have been regarded as transcription factors regulating the expression of target genes. However, growing evidence of rapid estrogen's actions in a number of tissues has been accumulating and alternative mechanisms of signal transduction have been proposed. These so called "extra-nuclear actions" do not require gene expression or protein synthesis and are independent of the nuclear localization of ERs. Indeed, some of these actions are elicited by ERs residing at or near the plasma membrane. Membrane-associated molecules such as ion channels, G proteins, the tyrosine kinase c-Src as well as growth factor receptors are modulated by liganded ERs within the membrane, leading to the activation of downstream cascades such as mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase, protein kinase A, and protein kinase C. These cascades mediate some important rapid actions of estrogen, such as the activation of nitric oxide synthesis or the remodeling of actin cytoskeleton. In addition, these pathways are critical for the regulation of the expression of a number of target proteins implicated in cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, movement, and homeostasis. In this manner, the extra-nuclear pathways are tightly integrated with the genomic pathways to orchestrate the full spectrum of estrogen's biological functions. The recent advancements in the characterization of the molecular basis of the extra-nuclear signaling of estrogen helps to understand the role of estrogen on human cells, and may in future turn out to be of relevance for clinical purposes. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(8): 502,510, 2008 [source]